10 ⚜ Audio

[restingstitchface]

[Anyone who's familiar with Crane will recognize his compulsive need to study fear. But what's the curious thing, here? His approach. His voice is as soft and calm as it had been upon his arrival. It gives an impression of frailty that's deliberately misleading. There was nothing about him that sounded like the Scarecrow. And that's the frightening thing.]

Machiavelli once said, "And here comes in the question whether it is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved. It might perhaps be answered that we should wish to be both; but since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved."

I put his question to you all; is it better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved?

[He likes the idea of letting the piddling powers in this place believe he's behaving himself; listening to that silly therapist he'd encountered recently. Maybe his audience all be dishonest in their answers. Frightened. Scared. He indulges in a smile. He will have to confirm all of their opinions with an experiment, of course.]

Comments

permavoice

[restingstitchface]

[No. He's not mentioning his family here.]

Yes. They didn't take rejection lightly.

[Oh, he'd been a heartbreaker when young. Back in those good old days when he'd secured his place at Gotham State, he had found himself free to do whatever he wanted - take that, you old bag, I'll drink whatever I like - and learned not to do most of it again.]

Re: permavoice

[microbrobotics]

yeah right. if they didnt hate you before they sure do now

[restingstitchface]

Listen to my voice, Hiro, and hear how heartbroken I sound about that.

[He speaks with a calm, level voice that's flowing with sarcasm.]

[microbrobotics]

thats cause youre broken inside

[restingstitchface]

Broken? Oh, I've never felt better. But thanks for your concern.

[Get away from him with your pity, you little shit.]

[microbrobotics]

[ It's not real pity, but Hiro will hammer on any buttons he thinks he sees. ]

yeah? got any friends?

[restingstitchface]

I've got my work. Should you reconsider being part of it, please let me know.

[microbrobotics]

id sooner chew off my own arm

[restingstitchface]

Of course. Unfortunately, you're already part of my experiment, whether you like it or not.

[microbrobotics]

what

how

[restingstitchface]

You're still speaking to me, child.

Can't you figure it out? Then allow me illuminate you.

I'm behind bars, correct? It helps everybody feel safe; they think they can lock me away and ignore what frightens them. But these walls? They're nothing. Your words, thoughts, feelings and emotions. They're already mine. And you won't ever get me out of your head.

[microbrobotics]

[ Why does he ever text this guy? Every time he does, he regrets it. ]

no, they cleared you out
just because im being stupid right now doesnt mean you have control over me

[restingstitchface]

[Right now? Hiro, please. You're stupid all the time.]

I'm something of an expert on fear, as you've guessed.

And I think you're lying.

[microbrobotics]

you werent there
i KNOW they got out that thing you left
so whatever, i can handle anything else

[restingstitchface]

Do you want to test that?

[microbrobotics]

[ There's a long pause ... Hiro really just wants this to stop, but he can't resist. Backing down admits that he's scared Crane DID leave something behind. ]

bring it

[restingstitchface]

Visit me, then. Alone.

[The gauntlet has been thrown.]

[microbrobotics]

[ Pride or not, Hiro has limits. Going to visit Crane alone is probably past it ... but like hell he'll admit that here. ]

dont think i wont

[restingstitchface]

Very well. I'll say it; I don't think you will.

[microbrobotics]

shut up. i could do it right now

[restingstitchface]

Aggression. The irrational response of a small-minded fool. But I'm here and I'm happy to accept that delightful offer. Are you coming?

[microbrobotics]

[ He's tempted. He's tempted despite himself ... After all, it's not like Crane can get him inside the comm right? He'd be safe.

... And yet the last time he thought he was safe for sure, he'd nearly died inside a bricked comm. He might be physically safe, but how long would it take for Crane to figure out all he has to do is turn off the external connections? No. Bad idea.

There's no response. Silence is telling. ]

[restingstitchface]

Aw, has the blackbird pecked off your nose, as the children say?

[His soft voice becomes harsh and knifelike.]

What are you, Hiro? Chicken?

[microbrobotics]

[ Goddammit. He grits his teeth over the comm, tempted beyond reason now... ]

no. smarter now.

[restingstitchface]

So you claim. You're still talking, though.

And that's not that smart, is it?